- You can control your asthma.
- You don’t need to miss school, sports or other events.
- Asthma is a disease that makes the airways in your lungs inflamed and swollen.
- During an asthma flare-up (attack), your airways are swollen and sensitive.
- You can control the swelling with medicine, and by staying away from things that bother your airways.
- Things that bother your airways are called "triggers".
- Triggers cause asthma flare-ups.
- Smoke, pollen, dust and exercise can be triggers.
- Every person with asthma has different triggers.
- Learn how to avoid your triggers and prevent flare-ups.
- Medicine taken before exercise can help prevent your asthma from flaring up.
- Work with your primary care provider to manage your asthma.
- Know what to do every day to avoid flare-ups.
- Know what to do right away if you have a flare-up.
- If someone you care for or live with has asthma, don’t smoke.
- Smoke is a common trigger and can cause asthma to flare up.
- We can help you quit smoking by connecting you to a smoking cessation program.
- If you are using your inhalers and still ending up with asthma exacerbations that require urgent care or emergency room visits, talk to your doctor about other medication options or referral to an asthma specialist.
Your Asthma Action Plan
To help you better manage your asthma, you and your primary care provider (PCP) can develop a personalized written plan called an asthma action plan. Your plan will help you know what to do if you experience a flare-up of symptoms.
Below is a link to a sample asthma action plan. If you don't have a plan, you can print it out and take it with you to your next PCP visit so you can create a plan together.